If you have heard of the National Guard or the Reserves, you have probably heard the phrase, “One Weekend a Month, Two weeks a Year.” Perhaps you saw it on a billboard or TV advertisement. Maybe you heard it from a recruiter, or while you were on active duty. One Weekend a Month, Two weeks […]

There are any number of articles out in the web-space about whether you should take terminal leave upon retirement or separation, vice selling back your unused leave. Ryan Guina’s Cash Money Life article is a very good primer on why this should be considered on a case-by-case basis, and why each decision on whether to take terminal leave is a personal one.

When leaving the military, one of the most important considerations is where to live. Should we buy a house? Should we rent? When making a home purchase decision, you need to understand how complex your situation is. For example, staying local during your transition might be a lot simpler than relocating. But relocation isn’t the […]

The military does a great job of assimilating this varied group of people into one common purpose. However, we all leave the military, for one reason or another. And that’s where there’s room for improvement. The military has a moral (and legal) responsibility to provide us transition resources. However, it’s ultimately our job to make […]

In a previous article, I wrote about the decision to either take terminal leave or sell it back. Basically, it boils down to the opportunity costs—what are you going to do with that terminal leave if you choose to take it? Personal reasons aside (like taking a well-deserved break), if you have nothing better to […]

As you transition from active service, life insurance is an important, yet overlooked aspect of your post-military financial planning. In a previous article, I discussed five considerations about your military life insurance needs. To build on those relevant points, this article focuses on things that may not present themselves until your transition. Life Insurance Consideration […]

I recently received a question regarding the taxation transitional compensation for abused dependents. In researching my answer, I noticed that there is a lot of information on the subject. However, most of this information seems to be in the form of laws, directives, and instructions, which doesn’t make it user-friendly for the people who might […]

As servicemembers exit the military, one of the biggest challenges we face is finding post-military employment that is commensurate with what we bring to the table. Many times, I’ve heard the story of someone who works hard, networks well, and ends up in a job with great promise. A year later, that person is dissatisfied […]

Taxes can be a major consideration in your military transition planning. As I outlined in a previous military pension article, your take-home pay can be up to 40% less than what you see on paper. Federal taxes are obviously a significant part of that equation. However, there are several ways in which state taxes (and […]

According to the VA Department, SGLI ends when you leave the military, unless you qualify for a disability extension. Although you’ll no longer have your SGLI, there are two ways to continue your $400,000 coverage. If done within a certain timeframe, you can continue coverage without having to prove good health (part of the insurance […]

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